USD 408’s special ed payment from state falls short

USD 408’s special education funding from the state was more than $100,000 less than a previous state projection, Superintendent Lee Leiker told Marion school board members Thursday.

Every year, the state sets a pool of money to be divided among school districts for special education, but the districts don’t know how much they will be paid until late in the year, despite earlier projections.

“What they tell us in January it might be is never what it is,” Leiker said after the meeting.

He said districts have to estimate what they will receive based on previous years.

“That’s just smoke and mirrors from the state is what it is,” board President Chris Sprowls said.

The board approved transferring about $172,000 from the general fund into special education, contingent on receiving the final state aid payment of about $295,000.

Chrissy McFall will replace Judy Versch, who has retired, as Marion Middle School secretary this fall. McFall will be paid $11.25 an hour.